On Saturday night, Tony La Russa found himself in Canton to celebrate his good friend Bill Parcells’ induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The roles likely will be reversed next summer in Cooperstown, N.Y.

La Russa will be eligible for the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The vote will be taken later this year.

In his 33-year managerial career with the White Sox, Athletics and Cardinals, La Russa won 2,728 games — ranking behind only Connie Mack and John McGraw in baseball history. He owns three World Series championships and six pennants.

Asked about his candidacy Saturday, the 68-year-old La Russa smiled and said, “The baseball gods are listening. I can’t talk about that.”

He did talk about Parcells, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday night during ceremonies at Fawcett Stadium. Parcells was passed over last year as a finalist.

“As disappointed as we were last year, we were that elated this year,” La Russa said. “Bill definitely had a Hall of Fame career. He’s a Hall of Fame coach and a Hall of Fame guy.”

The two became close during the Cardinals’ spring trainings in Jupiter, Fla.